Quality Assurance Auditor in Luton

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities. GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary: It’s great to know you’re making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play you’ll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers. Based at our Luton manufacturing plant you’ll do just that. Established in 1993, GKN Aerospace in Luton is a world leader in commercial and military ice protection systems and transparencies. Offering a full range of capabilities; design, analysis, testing, certification and manufacture of electro-thermal ice protection, military fast jet canopies and flight deck windows to over 20 programmes including: Boeing 787, Dreamliner, Airbus A320, AgustaWestland, AW101, Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. Our customers include Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopters, Textron, BAE Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Leonardo. Our Luton site is home to 370+ employees and onsite facilities including onsite parking, food hub and vending machines.

We're hiring a Quality Assurance Auditor to be based at our Luton manufacturing site. Reporting to the site Quality Manager, join the quality function to audit GKN Aerospace internal and external requirements such as Business/Quality Management Systems (BMS/QMS) & processes, against Regulatory Requirements, Industry Standards and Customer Requirements. Our Luton site operates core hours of 07:30–16:30, Monday to Thursday, and 07:30–12:30 on Fridays, giving you an early finish to start your weekend.

Job Responsibilities:

• Assist the Quality Manager in the delivery of audit activities that support the respective audit plans and schedules.
• Lead in audit engagement planning, scoping, and follow-up activities.
• Deliver the objectives of the audit, ensuring adequate preparation for the conduct of their respective audit criteria.
• Provide appropriate constructive feedback and recognition for the audit participants and site leadership team.
• Gather audit evidence, make recommendations, prepare the audit report and conduct the audit follow-up.
• Identify and share best practices and support continuous improvement of the BMS/QMS and its processes.
• Assess audit evidence and non-conformities, highlight improvement opportunities, and share clear recommendations and risk insights with the Quality Manager.
• Support root-cause analysis and corrective action activities.
• Propagate Quality Culture across GKN Aerospace.

What You'll Bring: To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

• Essential:

• Demonstrable experience of working within a regulated industry such as Aerospace or Automotive.
• Possess the necessary personal attributes/behaviours to act in accordance with the principles of auditing.
• Knowledge in the use of risk-based methods and techniques for audit planning and management.
• Demonstrable experience in Practical Problem Solving (PPS) and Route Cause and Corrective Actions (RCCA) Techniques.
• An effective communicator with experience in MS applications/tools.

• Certification, or obtained training, as an Internal or External Auditor through a certified Training Partner.
• Experience of aerospace management systems, processes and procedures.
• Demonstrable knowledge of AS9100 / ISO 9001.
• Knowledge of Aviation Regulations (EASA, CAA etc.) & contracted customer quality requirements.
• Experience in undertaking Internal Audits, in a regulated industry, against the audit process requirements.

We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented members with the skills and passions to become the best of the future in what they do. The Quality Assurance Auditor will demonstrate strong communication skills, using active listening, thoughtful inquiry, and clear articulation when engaging with diverse stakeholders. You'll build effective professional relationships across the business, supporting collaboration and shared understanding.

With excellent analytical and critical-thinking abilities, you'll apply close attention to detail when working within complex systems, ensuring accuracy in identifying non-conformities and improvement opportunities. Confidently carry out critical evaluations of processes and designs, assessing effectiveness and highlighting areas for enhancement. Strong problem-solving skills and solid subject knowledge of requirements will support sound judgement and practical recommendations.

The role requires effective note-taking, ensuring audit evidence and observations are captured accurately and transparently. The Quality Assurance Auditor will act with the highest level of integrity, maintaining impartiality, confidentiality, and professionalism at all times.

With a mindset of adaptability and curiosity, remain open to new information, evolving requirements, and continuous improvement—both in own work and across the wider organisation.

Note: Some GKN programmes are subject to regulatory restrictions which may impact certain nationalities. As part of the application process you will be asked to declare when applying for this role.

What We'll Offer: Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

• Competitive salary dependent on experience.
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis.
• Life Assurance 8 x salary.
• 185 hours holiday + bank holidays.
• Income protection.
• Shopping discounts.
• Cycle To Work Scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family.
• Free onsite parking.
• Local gym discount.
• Free airport parking.
• Discount with local nursery and preschool childcare setting.
• Enhanced family friendly leave.
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment.

As well as a competitive package we’ll offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! We’ll support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. That’s the beauty of being part of a global business, once you’re on board you never know where your career journey may take you!

Join us and keep the world moving … click on the link below to apply.

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working. Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work. We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know. We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.